Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



HOPPENAU.

Breech-Loading Eire-Arms.

Patented March 18, 18731 m W M rrnn STATES HENRY HOPPENAU, OF KANSASCITY, MISSOURI.

HVIPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 36,998, dated March18,1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY HOPPENAU, of Kansas City, in the county ofJackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Breech-Loading Fire- Arms; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification.

The invention consists in the improvement of breech-loading fire-arms,as hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 2is a top view with parts broken off.

A represents the stock of a breech-loading firearm, and B the slide,which is drawn back to allow the cartridge to be inserted into itschamber 0. D is the casing, which is provided with a superposed spring,01, having on the under side of front end the pendent stud d, which fitsinto a corresponding hole or notch, b, of the slide, and thus locks thelatter after the cartridge has been inserted. The slide is thusprecluded any movement until the stud d of spring is lifted to allow itto be moved back from its position over the cartridgechamber. Thisspring has also, upon the upper side of its free end, a vertical stud,cl", with head on top to enable the bifurcated end of springlifter E toelevate it when the thumb-end e is pressed down. This spring-lifter E isrecessed on each side at c 0 so as to be held loosely between twouprights, b b, on the slide B.

By this construction the spring-lifter is held firmly to its place onslide; can vibrate vertically to accommodate itself to changes in therelative position of slide to casing 5 and is always guided on the studd? in the backward and forward motions of slide.

On the top of slide rises a vertical slotted post, F, through whichpasses the spring-lifter E, and on which is a sight, f, verticallyadjustable onv grooves f f. This post thus serves the double purpose ofa handle, by which the slide may be operated, and a guide for anadjustable sight. G is the bolt or needle carrier, provided with a rearpropelling spring, G, and lugs g 9, one of which slides on top in grooveof case, and the other on the bottom in a grooved guide-piece, H.

This construction prevents any possible va riation of the needle, andcauses it always to work freely and easily through the center of rearperforation in cartridge-chamber.

At the end of groove in slide B is a shoulder, which acts against lug g,and enables the slide to carry back the bolt or needle carrier untillocked by trigger-catch.

If a primed bullet is employed I use the long sharp pointed needle I, soas to penetrate and enter .thereinto while, if a metallic cartridge isemployed, I use short and comparatively blunt-pointed pin, which merelyindents the metal.

Where the central fire is not used I employ a pin or needle, K,supported and sliding in an upright, L, near the rear end ofcartridge-chamber.

Between the upright and cartridge chamber is a spring, M, which retractsand throws out this needle or pin after the bolt has been withdrawn.

On the bolt or needle carrier G is a side piece, 9 which is notched toreceive the end of a thumb-screw, N, that is operated from the outside.The object of this device is to lock the bolt securely until theoperator is ready to fire.

It will be observed that, if a person should fail to carry the slide Bforward and allow it to be locked by the spring-catch, the bolt willperform this duty before the explosion takes place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The sliding cartridge-chamber cover B, having the notch b, incombination with the spring 01 attached to the rear end to the case, andprovided with pendent stud on the front end, as and for the purposedescribed.

2. The bifurcated lifter E, attached to slide B, and combined withspring having the headed stud 01 as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The sight f, combined with and adjustable on the slotted post F ofslide, as and for the purpose specified.

HENRY HOPIENAU.

Witnesses:

ANTON STAMM, MICHAEL WAIDHIER.

